Primary candidate to fill Hanover vacancy

The Hanover Town Council will look to primary candidates to fill a seat that was left vacant more than two months ago.

Brett Mitchell, who was elected in 2010, resigned from one of the board's two at-large seats in December 2013 after moving out of the district he represented. His term was up at the end of the year.

The board said Thursday it will ask for letters of interest from those who filed in the May 6 primary for the Council's two at-large seats. Four Democrats have filed, including the incumbent Jennifer Shelton, Kenneth W. Garrett Jr., Belva Missy Ashby Scott and Denise Buxton. No Republicans filed for either seat.

While the four current board members - all Democrats - still make a quorum to conduct official business, Council President Debbie Kroger said the board wants to return to full five-member body as soon as possible to ensure all town residents have representation.

"It's exciting that we get to fill it, because I was afraid we'd have to go the rest of the year with just the four of us," she said.

The board will ask the primary candidates to submit letters of interest by March 11, the next regularly scheduled meeting. The board plans to have a decision that night.

Following Mitchell's resignation, the Jefferson County Republican Party had 30 days to nominate a candidate or the party chair could appoint someone. No one applied for or accepted the seat, however, kicking the appointment back to the board.

One of the issues with filing the seat has been the timing, Kroger said. Because the filing period for the 2014 election ended Feb. 7, only the primary candidates would have the chance to serve beyond the end of the year, she said.